Letter: Sick trees

Your 'In brief' correspondent reports the creation of a scientific task force to review the health of Britain's trees (This Week, 17 February). The report also states that this initiative, taken by the Department of the Environment, is a snub to the Forestry Commission. The fact that the Forestry Commission has two members on the group is not mentioned, nor that the commission welcomes an objective look at tree health studies. The chairman of the group (Professor Mike Unsworth) is well known and respected by Forestry Commission scientists. We look forward to participating in the work of the task force and giving the group free access to a wide variety of survey information on forest health.

D. A. Burdekin Director of Research Forestry Commission

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